International Yacht Crew Training

International Yacht Crew Training


There are basically two divisions of marine licensing. Merchant Marine (commercial) licenses apply to all ocean going vessels (including cargo ships, cruise liners, ferries and navy vessels) and the others are the various yachting association certificates which apply to recreational sailing and motor yachts. Recently with the addition of much larger yachts worldwide, most countries have been requiring commercial licenses for yachts over one hundred feet. Canada, USA and the UK each has their own recreational yachting associations (CYA, RYA, ASA) although most of their training and exams are very similar. These are mostly recreational licenses and do not apply to any charter yachts, nor vessels over 100 feet.



The Maritime Coastguard Agency of the British commonwealth has even created a new class of commercial license (Class 4) exclusively for yachts. They will also accept applications for a MCA Certificate of Equivalency (CoE) from other country's licenses by submitting an application to their agency. Canada and the United States do NOT recognize licenses from other countries, therefore it is recommended for Americans and Canadians to first obtain the license from their country, before applying for an equivalency to the MCA. Also these two countries will only permit crew who are citizens or with work visa to work on their yachts. There are training facilities out there offering recreational "yachtmaster" licenses up to 200 tons, however these are also limited to 70 feet in length (the only license with a length restriction). If you plan on advancing your career into the Superyacht and Megayacht categories, we recommend obtaining commercial licenses.



International Maritime Organization



The International Maritime Organization is the United Nations' specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships. They created the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) in 1978 and were revised and amended in 1995 (STCW-95). 157 governments comprise the members of the IMO and each is individually responsible for implementing the legislation adopted by the IMO. These countries basic emergency training are recognized as meeting the standard set out by the IMO. This emergency training consists of marine medical training, marine fire fighting, sea survival and personal safety & social responsibilities. This is required by ALL crew on board including Stewardesses, Chefs, and all Deck Crew and should be the starting point for anyone interested in working on a yacht !



United States Coast Guard

issued as a combination of the grade, route, propulsion and tonnage. Any combinations can be made of any of the fields below, for example: "Master, Oceans, Motor, 100 ton".

Grades: Master, Chief Mate, Second Mate, Third Mate, or Mate

Routes: Inland, Great Lakes, Near Coastal or Oceans

Means of propulsion: Steam, Motor, Sail or Auxiliary Sail

Vessel tonnage: 100T, 150T, 200T, 500T, 1600T or unlimited





American Sailing Association

Basic Keelboat: Able to sail a boat of about 20 feet in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. A preparatory Standard with no auxiliary power or navigation skills required.

Basic Coastal Cruising: Able to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 20 to 30 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions.

Intermediate Coastal Cruising: An advanced cruising Standard for individuals with cruising experience. The individual can act as skipper or crew of a 30 - 50 foot boat sailing by day in coastal waters. The Standard includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance procedures.

Coastal Navigation: Able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters. There is no Sailing Skills part to this Standard and practical application of this sailing knowledge is found in the Advanced Coastal Cruising Standard.

Advanced Coastal Cruising: Able to safely act as skipper and crew of a sailing vessel about 30 to 50 feet in length. This is a day and nighttime Standard in coastal and inland water, in any weather.

Celestial Navigation: Able to demonstrate the Celestial Navigation theory required to safely navigate a sailboat on an offshore passage. The practical application is conducted in the Offshore passage making Standard.

Offshore Passage making: The sailor is able to safely act as skipper or crew of a sailing vessel on offshore passages in any weather. The Celestial Navigation Standard is performed.



MCA Maritime and Coastguard Agency UK

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of the United Kingdom issues licenses by oral exam for Class 4 and 5 commercial ticket holders for operating UK registered vessels. Also available are Certificates of Equivalent Competency (CEC) issued to holders of valid STCW certificates from other recognized nations, also by way of oral examination. If you hold a USCG license or a Canadian license, you qualify for an equivalent license from the MCA!!

STCW is comprised of:

Advanced Sea Survival: 3 day course dealing with all aspects of life saving equipment and training including practical abandonment from a yacht at sea.

MCA Medical Care aboard Ships: 8 day course covering all aspects of medical care on board.

Basic and Advanced Firefighting: 5 day fire fighting course covering theory and practical drills.



MCA Class 4 Certificate of Competence is comprised of:

Yachtmaster Offshore: 5 day theory and 5 day practical course in navigation and boat handling

Yachtmaster Ocean: 6 day course in Celestial Navigation

GMDSS General Operator's Certificate: 10 day course in MF/HF, Satcoms and D.S.C.

Navigation & Radar: 10 day module in chart work and radar techniques

MCA Ship Stability & Construction: 5 day course in ship stability & construction

MCA Business & Maritime Law: 5 day course in Shipmaster's Business & Maritime Law

CLASS 4 Oral Preparation: 3 day examination preparation course covering all areas of the syllabus. This is a revision course covering all M.C.A. Modules in preparation for your oral examination.

CLASS 4 Oral examination covering all areas of the syllabus by an MCA examiner.



RYA Royal Yachting Association UK

The RYA is the recreational yachting licenses for UK vessels up to 200 tons.

Day Skipper Sail / Motor Cruising: An elementary course in basic seamanship, navigation and meteorology suitable for beginners and people with little experience in yachts.

Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Cruising: A more advanced course in navigation and meteorology, suitable for students who have already completed the elementary course or who have a background of cruising or offshore racing. The course is definitely not for beginners. Minimum duration: 46 hours.

Yachtmaster Ocean Sail/Motor Cruising: This course covers astral-navigation and worldwide meteorology. Knowledge of terrestrial navigation and meteorology to the standard of Yachtmaster Offshore is assumed. Minimum duration: 40 hours.

VHF Radio Operators' Courses : These short courses prepare students for the examinations required for the operation of a marine VHF radiotelephone. Duration: 1 or 2 days.

Introduction to Motor Cruising : This is an informal course mainly run by motor cruising clubs. Although designated as a shore based course it does include some practical sessions.

Diesel Engine: A basic introduction to the marine diesel engine to give students the opportunity to change the impeller, bleed the fuel system and change fuel filters. Course numbers are limited to six per engine on this one-day course.



Canadian Merchant Marine

Watchkeeper Mate: Qualifies the holder to carry out duties as a 3rd Mate on a Foreign Going vessel, which usually requires an addition of the OSI-Astro-Navigation, or as a 2nd Mate on a Home Trade Vessel.

Command Endorsement: Qualifies the holder to act as a Master of a vessel not exceeding 350 tons gross tonnage (within the Home Trade limits), or of a tug of any size.

Ocean Navigator II: Qualifies the holder to act in the capacity of a 2nd Mate on a Foreign Going vessel or a 1st Mate on a Home Trade vessel.

Ocean Navigator I: Qualifies the holder to act in the capacity of a 1st Mate on a Foreign Going vessel or a Master on a Home Trade vessel.

Master Mariner: Qualifies the holder to act in the capacity of Master on a Foreign Going vessel or a Home Trade vessel.



Canadian Yachting Association

Basic Cruising: This covers the skills required to cruise safely in local waters as either skipper or crew of a sailing cruiser of 20-30 feet in moderate wind and sea conditions by day.

Intermediate Cruising: This covers the skills required to cruise safely a keelboat of 25-35 feet in familiar waters. It is recommended as the minimum qualification for bareboat chartering. The recommended time for teaching and examining the standard is five days or two weekends.

Advanced Cruising: This covers the skills needed to skipper or crew a sailing cruiser of 25-40 feet during the day and night in coastal waters in any weather.

Coastal Navigation: This covers the theory required to navigate safely in coastal or inland waters. This theory is applied in the Advanced standard.

Celestial Navigation: This covers the theory required to navigate safely on offshore passages. This theory is applied in the Offshore standard.

Yachtmaster Offshore: This is the highest level of the CYA Learn to Cruise Program. It covers the skills required to skipper or crew on offshore passages exceeding 500 miles in length and venturing more than 100 nautical miles from land.